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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

39-2021 Animal Caretakers

Feed, water, groom, bathe, exercise, or otherwise provide care to promote and maintain the well-being of pets and other animals that are not raised for consumption, such as dogs, cats, race horses, ornamental fish or birds, zoo animals, and mice. Work in settings such as kennels, animal shelters, zoos, circuses, and aquariums. May keep records of feedings, treatments, and animals received or discharged. May clean, disinfect, and repair cages, pens, or fish tanks. Excludes “Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers” (31-9096) and “Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals” (45-2093).

National estimates for Animal Caretakers
Industry profile for Animal Caretakers
Geographic profile for Animal Caretakers

National estimates for Animal Caretakers:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Animal Caretakers:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
256,670 2.7 % $ 15.46 $ 32,160 0.6 %

Percentile wage estimates for Animal Caretakers:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 10.70 $ 12.68 $ 14.20 $ 17.04 $ 21.29
Annual Wage (2) $ 22,250 $ 26,370 $ 29,530 $ 35,450 $ 44,280

Industry profile for Animal Caretakers:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Animal Caretakers are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Animal Caretakers, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Animal Caretakers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Personal Services 125,800 34.44 $ 15.13 $ 31,460
Other Miscellaneous Retailers 43,730 8.93 $ 15.73 $ 32,710
Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 37,300 4.53 $ 14.28 $ 29,700
Social Advocacy Organizations 11,160 4.69 $ 14.11 $ 29,360
Spectator Sports 6,960 5.23 $ 16.15 $ 33,590

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Animal Caretakers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Other Personal Services 125,800 34.44 $ 15.13 $ 31,460
Support Activities for Animal Production 5,270 16.48 $ 17.18 $ 35,740
Other Miscellaneous Retailers 43,730 8.93 $ 15.73 $ 32,710
Spectator Sports 6,960 5.23 $ 16.15 $ 33,590
Social Advocacy Organizations 11,160 4.69 $ 14.11 $ 29,360

Top paying industries for Animal Caretakers:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 450 0.02 $ 22.48 $ 46,770
Computer Systems Design and Related Services (8) (8) $ 22.07 $ 45,900
Animal Food Manufacturing 200 0.29 $ 21.67 $ 45,080
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 260 0.01 $ 20.55 $ 42,750
Real Estate (8) (8) $ 20.14 $ 41,880

Geographic profile for Animal Caretakers:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Animal Caretakers are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Animal Caretakers, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of animal caretakers by state, May 2022


States with the highest employment level in Animal Caretakers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 25,030 1.42 0.82 $ 18.37 $ 38,200
Texas 19,630 1.51 0.87 $ 14.51 $ 30,180
Florida 15,240 1.65 0.95 $ 14.99 $ 31,170
New York 11,950 1.31 0.76 $ 17.74 $ 36,910
Illinois 10,530 1.79 1.03 $ 16.28 $ 33,870


Map of location quotient of animal caretakers by state, May 2022


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Animal Caretakers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Kentucky 5,860 3.08 1.78 $ 13.59 $ 28,280
New Hampshire 1,690 2.57 1.48 $ 14.95 $ 31,100
Idaho 2,010 2.52 1.45 $ 15.09 $ 31,380
Missouri 6,910 2.45 1.41 $ 14.58 $ 30,320
Rhode Island 1,150 2.39 1.38 $ 16.49 $ 34,300


Map of annual mean wages of animal caretakers by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Animal Caretakers:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Washington 6,880 2.02 1.16 $ 18.96 $ 39,450
District of Columbia 110 0.16 0.09 $ 18.73 $ 38,960
Massachusetts 7,840 2.20 1.27 $ 18.71 $ 38,930
California 25,030 1.42 0.82 $ 18.37 $ 38,200
New York 11,950 1.31 0.76 $ 17.74 $ 36,910



Map of employment of animal caretakers by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Animal Caretakers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 12,040 1.31 0.76 $ 17.75 $ 36,910
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 8,390 1.37 0.79 $ 18.02 $ 37,480
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 8,330 1.89 1.09 $ 16.69 $ 34,710
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 6,050 2.24 1.29 $ 18.58 $ 38,650
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 6,010 1.58 0.91 $ 14.84 $ 30,870
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 5,900 2.16 1.25 $ 13.80 $ 28,700
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 5,350 1.77 1.02 $ 16.89 $ 35,120
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 5,330 1.92 1.11 $ 15.44 $ 32,100
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 4,830 1.58 0.91 $ 14.40 $ 29,960
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 4,250 2.08 1.20 $ 19.79 $ 41,150


Map of location quotient of animal caretakers by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Animal Caretakers:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Lexington-Fayette, KY 2,020 7.54 4.34 $ 14.23 $ 29,600
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA 560 6.59 3.80 $ 14.03 $ 29,190
Ocala, FL 690 6.19 3.56 $ 13.85 $ 28,810
Jacksonville, NC 240 4.75 2.73 $ 12.15 $ 25,270
Hot Springs, AR 180 4.66 2.68 $ 15.49 $ 32,220
Dover-Durham, NH-ME 210 4.22 2.43 $ 15.34 $ 31,900
Santa Fe, NM 240 4.05 2.34 $ 15.44 $ 32,120
Lawrence, KS 190 4.00 2.31 $ 12.40 $ 25,800
Asheville, NC 770 3.91 2.26 $ 13.76 $ 28,610
Muncie, IN 170 3.80 2.19 $ 13.62 $ 28,330